According to sources, the corporate would, as a substitute, come out with a brand new sports activities utility automobile codenamed YFG, which it’s co-developing with Toyota (codenamed D22). The new SUV would compete with Hyundai’s vastly profitable Creta.
In the final seven years, S-Cross has offered merely 165,000 items, at a median of about 2,000 items per thirty days. In comparability, Hyundai launched the Creta across the similar time and has offered about 700,000 items ― at over 8,000 items per thirty days.
When contacted, Maruti Suzuki neither confirmed, nor denied the event. Shashank Srivastava, senior govt director, advertising and gross sales, advised FE that the S-Cross is the carmaker’s flagship mannequin and holds an indispensable place within the Nexa portfolio.
“It is appreciated for its striking exteriors, elegant interiors and a strong road presence. The S-Cross offers a powerful drive experience with refined performance. This is complemented by a dominating and authoritative design language along with feature-rich interiors,” he mentioned.
“We have sold over 165,000 units of the S-Cross so far and thank our customers for their continued support. We would not be able to give any guidance with respect to the stopping of S-Cross production or the introduction of a new model.”
The S-Cross was the primary Maruti Suzuki automobile provided with solely diesel engine choices. It, nevertheless, didn’t have an automated gearbox, a function that prospects of premium vehicles had began valuing. The Creta provided that.
In September 2017, after having offered merely 64,000 items in a bit of over two years, the S-Cross acquired a facelift ― beauty modifications out and in in addition to a mild-hybrid system that elevated the gasoline effectivity.
But the 1.6-litre engine was discontinued as a consequence of poor demand.
On August 5, 2020, Maruti Suzuki launched the S-Cross solely in petrol. This was as a result of the corporate determined to maneuver out of diesel engines with the implementation of BS VI emission norms, which got here into impact from April 1, 2020.
The firm then gave S-Cross a model new id by selling it because the ‘the refined SUV’. But even this picture change from ‘the premium crossover’ to ‘the refined SUV’ couldn’t enhance gross sales.
An trade veteran who has labored with Maruti Suzuki and later with one other Japanese carmaker in India advised FE that the S-Cross didn’t have a transparent model id.
“It confused the buyer. How will you describe the S-Cross? At least when a person went to buy the Creta, she knew she was buying an SUV. But the S-Cross was neither here, nor there. A company should be clear what its product stands for and who is the customer,” he mentioned. “In addition, intense competition meant the S-Cross couldn’t even find its feet properly.”
A Maruti insider mentioned that the upcoming YFG is being touted because the Creta-killer and is more likely to be launched through the festive season this calendar yr. It could be manufactured at Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s plant in Bidadi close to Bengaluru.
Toyota’s model of the YFG (codenamed D22) will even be launched across the similar time.
Both these SUVs could be powered by sturdy hybrid petrol engine expertise from Toyota, and Maruti Suzuki will promote the YFG by way of the Nexa gross sales channel.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”